The 42nd chapter of the book of Isaiah clearly foretells the coming of an Arabian prophet, specifically prophet Muhammed( peace and blessing be upon him).

 

Ask A Muslim

٧ س ·

The 42nd chapter of the book of Isaiah clearly foretells the coming of an Arabian prophet, specifically prophet Muhammed( peace and blessing be upon him).

Isaiah describes itself as a prophecy about the future. Isaiah states that “the former things have taken place and new things I declare” (Isaiah 42:9)

In this chapter it is drawing our attention to a very special person that he will send. He describes this person as: “... My servant, whom I uphold... My chosen one in whom I delight “(Isaiah 42:1). At least three of the names of the prophet Muhammed are mentioned servant of God, the chosen one and in whom God delight.

Isaiah is originally written in Hebrew, Arabic and Hebrew share a lot of common words because they are both Semitic languages. Isaiah uses the Hebrew word (ebed) for servant, the Arabic word for servant is Abd. Prophet Muhammed is known as the God’s servant, in Arabic Abdullah. Chosen one is Mustafa in Arabic, this is another of the names of prophet Muhammed. The one in whom God delights shows that this person is beloved to God, Habib Allah in Arabic, which means beloved of God also it happens to be one of the prophet Muhammed’s names.

Concerning Arabia....

In Isaiah, God also reveals location of this special Person; He states:”let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices. Let the settlements where Kadar lives rejoice.” (Isaiah 42:11)

Among all the nations on earth that God inspired Isaiah to mention, He chose to highlight kedar’s location.So, we should pay special attention.

Throughout the Bible Kedar and his sons are linked to Arabia. For example, the Book of Ezekiel tells us that “Arabia and all the princess of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, Rams and goats; in these they did business with you.” (Ezekiel 27:12)

The city of Madinah...

In Isaiah God goes on to narrow the location down further to a specific city within Arabia. He states that “The people of Sela (should) sing for joy: let them shout from the mountaintops” Isaiah (42: 11).

The place Sela pinpoints the exact location in Arabia, the place being spoken of is the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia because Sela is the name of a famous mountain in Medina.

Medina was the city of the prophet Muhammed.

An important point worth mentioning is that historically, we know that there was a presence of various Jewish tribes in Medina before the advent of prophet Muhammed, both Jewish historians and Islamic history records this fact.

The question then arises why were there numerous Jewish tribes within Medina?

The answer is that the learned Jews were aware of this prophecy in Isaiah, and were anxiously awaiting the coming of a new prophet.

Islamic history records the fact that whenever a dispute arose between the Jews and the Arab in Medina, the Jews used to taunt their pagan Arab neighbors by saying when our prophet arrives ,we shall obliterate you.

The Quran also affirms this God says “And has it not been a sign to them that he is recognized by the scholars of the Children of Israel?”(Quran chapter 26; verse 197)

What will he bring??

In Isaiah God informs us that this special person will bring something new. Mankind is told that “we will sig to the lord a new song his praise from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 42:10)

The statement “a new song” means a new law and a new way of worship.

This is exactly what Islam represents, it emphasis on the new song here is singing the praise of God all over the earth.

The Quran opens with the statement “[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds –” (chapter 1, verse2), and is recited by all Muslims all over the world during prayers every day.

The new song cannot refer to Jesus because he did not bring about anything new rather he confirmed the laws of Moses that was already in the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus said “think not I come to destroy the law or the prophets , I am not to destroy but to fulfill.”(Matthew5:17).

Jesus obeyed and followed the laws of Moses throughout his life.

Jesus did not sing a new song, he sang the same song of Moses,’ the Torah'.

Moreover, the disciples of Jesus also follow the law of Moses even after Jesus departed. In the book of Acts, we are told that the disciples look to the Torah of A guidance, “for the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest time” (Acts15:21).

Who will be sent to????

In Isaiah God emphasises the universal mission of the coming person. By mentioning that he will be made “Covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles “ (Isaiah 42:6)

Gentiles means non-Jews .

The Quran confirms that the prophet Muhammed peace be upon him was sent to the whole of mankind Jews and gentiles alike .In the Quran tells us”And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.”(chapter34, verse28).

The verse in Isaiah can not apply to Jesus because in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus said “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel “(Matthew 15:24).

In Isaiah God further states that he will “lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them” (Isaiah 42:16).

The pagan Arabs at the time the prophet Muhammed fit the description perfectly ,because they have not been sent a messenger prior to Muhammed.

The Quran bears witness to this ,God states that Muhammed was sent to “.... warn people to whom no warner has come before you”(chapter32, verse 3).

The verse in Isaiah can not apply to Jesus because his people the Israelites had already received a multitude of prophets from God.

In Isaiah God Emphasizes that this special person will be sent to “those who trust in idols, who say to images, you are out Gods”( Isaiah 42:17).

The whole of Arabia at the start of Muhammed’s prophethood consisted of idol worshippers.

.Again , this cannot be a reference to Jesus because his people the Israelites were monotheists not idols worshipers. Moreover, Jesus explicitly told his disciples to stay away from idol-worshipping gentiles. The exact opposite of what God prophesied in Isaiah .

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that:These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions, “do not go among the gentiles” (Matthew 10:5)

In Isaiah, God states that this special person will be a warrior, and will “...Go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealously like a man of war; he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemy “ (Isaiah 42:13)

Throughout history ,God has dealt sternly with those who are set guidance and persist in disbelief. Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him has engage in many battles with the idol-worshipping enemies of God and ultimately prevailed against them.

By comparison, Jesus did not triumph over his enemies according to Christians he was crucified by them.

Moreover, Jesus was not interested in fighting, he was not a man of war, he was a pacifist according to the Bible.

He said such things as “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52)

“My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom was of this

world, then would my servants fight... “ (John 18:36)

What will he achieve????

In Isaiah, God gives us a list of momentous achievements of this special person. Chief of these is that idol-worshipers “will be turned back in utter shame” (Isaiah 42:17)

Not only to prophet Muhammed conquered Mecca, the pagan capital of Arabia, but by the end of his life, in just 23 short years of prophethood , Arabia had shunned idol worship and now worshipped the one true God of Abraham.

This can not apply to Jesus as it was Christians themselves who were humiliated and greatly ashamed for hundreds of years after Jesus.

They were persecuted at the hands of the Roman Empires who were idol-worshippers. They executed some of the apostles of Jesus such as Peter and Paul, Christians were tortured and even fed to the lions.

Finally, Isaiah closes with an admonishment from God “Here you deaf; look you bind, and see! You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen. Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come?” ( Isaiah 42:18-23)

It seems clear that a deaf and blind, God is talking about in this verse are those who reject prophet Muhammed peace be upon him. Who among you will heed God by acknowledging him who will listen and pay close attention in time to come?

"Those who follow the messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written[i.e mentioned] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right” (Quran, chapter 7, verse 157).

Scripted by/Bassant

Revised by/Aya Zakaria